Knoxville — New statistics from the Federal Bureau of Investigation report that crime in the United States has dropped 10 percent in 1999.
UT-Knoxville Law College professor Neil Cohen says it’s certainly good news, but the reasons why are tough to determine.
According to Cohen, declining crime rates cannot be attributed solely to higher prosecution rates or tougher sentencing laws.
The FBI reported a 14 percent drop in burglaries, a 13 percent decline in murders and 12 percent fewer auto thefts this year.